Dear Parents,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you may know, this term your 7th grade student in the Bilingual Program will be reading New Kid<\/em> by Jerry Craft. This will not be an adapted or abridged text, but rather the original work of American young adult literature. We\u2019d like to give you some background about the novel, mention the benefits and challenges from the students\u2019 point of view, and also make suggestions for how you could help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading in any language expands the mind and helps us explore vital topics and real-life situations, all the while allowing students to develop their comprehension skills, critical thinking capabilities and complexity of thought both in general and also in that specific language. Indeed, research indicates that reading skills directly relate to future academic and professional success. It can help students gain a deeper understanding of context and why characters \u2013 and people \u2013 make the choices they do. Reading also helps build independence and self-confidence and has a positive effect on the development of empathy as well as concentration. Finally, reading is a major resource for using and understanding language \u2013 including grammatical structure, lexical knowledge and writing skills. Not only can students pick up new words, but reading them in an authentic context can also help students understand the subtle nuances of the lexis that was chosen by the author. The same is true when we process the plot and character development through the linguistic structures employed by the author \u2013 helping students understand a variety of uses \u201cin the linguistic wild\u201d, as it were. All in all, reading in any language develops skills that are essential for each student\u2019s continuing studies and life in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Kid<\/em> has won multiple notable awards such as the Coretta Scott King Award 2020, Kirkus Prize 2019, and Harvey Award for Best Children or Young Adult Book 2020. It was even the first ever graphic novel to win the prestigious John\u00a0 Newbery Medal 2020 for its accessible and relatable portrayal of diversity and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jerry Craft\u2019s New Kid<\/em> is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that explores how society subtly makes individuals feel out of place. The story follows Jordan, who navigates being the new student at an affluent, predominantly white school while adjusting to a different social environment. The combination of text and illustrations aids in understanding new vocabulary and expressions. The novel’s themes of diversity, fitting in, and social challenges promote meaningful classroom discussions, helping students practice English and develop empathy. Overall, New Kid<\/em> supports language learning and encourages conversations about identity and inclusion, making it a valuable choice for the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many students have been under the impression that because it is a graphic novel, it will be an easy read. While it may be easy to get through the words, graphic novels such as New Kid were written to push young people to see deeper into some more complex ideas like race and culture. Encouraging your son or daughter to look not only at the words but the background and details as they go panel by panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please let us know if you have further questions. We would like to thank you for your support in helping your child keep up with his or her chapter-by-chapter reading assignments at home. Finally, we hope your son or daughter learns from this novel and, most importantly, enjoys reading it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Jerry Craft Dear Parents, As you may know, this term your 7th grade student in the Bilingual Program will be reading New Kid by Jerry Craft. This will not be an adapted or abridged text, but rather the original work of American young adult literature. We\u2019d like to give you some background about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9232","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy is it important for my child to read in English?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why was this novel chosen?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the benefits of this novel?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are some of the challenges?\/How can I as a parent help?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n